The last interview I had the privilege of conducting at the Grow 2019 Agri-summit was with the fascinating, Melissa Clark-Reynolds.  We talked farming business models and whether farmers are farming the land or the product. We covered farm diversification and how that can bring women back into the farming business. Also about how urban women ARE actually interested in how we farm - we feed their families after all!

We also talked carbon, family/children and whether there is such a thing as 'balance' - Melissa's theory on balance is one to hear! I thoroughly enjoyed this discussion and think you will too.

Melissa Clark-Reynolds, ONZM, is the first independent director of Beef + Lamb New Zealand—the farmer-owned, industry organisation representing New Zealand's sheep and beef farmers.

She is best known as a digital strategist, foresight practitioner, and professional director, and has 25 years’ experience as an entrepreneur and in the business startup community. She has been CEO of a number of technology companies. She is a Governor of Radio NZ, sits on the Boards of Kiwi Insurance and Jasmax, and chairs the LINZ Risk & Audit Committee.

Melissa was a Member of MPI’s Primary Growth Partnership Investment Advisory Panel from 2014 to 2016. She has attended the Te Hono Bootcamp at Stanford University, trained as a Foresight Practitioner with The Institute For The Future in Palo Alto, and trained with Clayton Christiansen in his approach to Disruptive Innovation through Harvard (HBX).

She keeps bees and tweets as @HoneyBeeGeek.